[Archived] City of Alexandria Announces Free Income Tax Return Preparation Assistance for Low-Income Residents

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	February 9, 2007 PIO# 032-07/jbh	Brian Hannigan, Director of Communications, or Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

CITY OF ALEXANDRIA ANNOUNCES FREE INCOME TAX RETURN
PREPARATION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS
Local Nonprofit Organizations Provide Tax Preparation and Financial Counseling Services

The City of Alexandria is again offering tax preparation assistance to low-income Alexandria residents during the 2007 tax season. The free service, provided by expert volunteers from Community Tax Aid, Inc., is designed to help Alexandria residents file accurate IRS and Virginia individual income tax returns and to apply for all applicable credits and deductions.

Tax preparation sessions are scheduled from 9 AM until Noon on Saturdays and from 6:30 until 8 PM on Wednesdays, through April 14. Sessions are held in the lobby of the Alexandria Department of Human Services, 2525 Mount Vernon Avenue.

“Many low-income working families and individuals are not aware they may be eligible for the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Federal Child Tax Credit,” said Debra R. Collins, Director of the Alexandria Department of Human Services. “The City of Alexandria wants to ensure that all our families take advantage of all credits and deductions for which they are eligible.”

Because of its substantive effect on a family’s income, the EITC has been called the greatest anti-poverty program in the country. Depending on household composition, the EITC can be worth up to $4,500 this year. Yet for a variety of reasons, many eligible taxpayers fail to take advantage of the EITC.

According to the Internal Revenue Service, over 22 million taxpayers received $41.4 billion dollars in EITC credits last year. But as many as 25 percent of people who qualify for the credit do not claim it.

“To those families or individuals, this cash credit could provide an incentive to get out of debt, start a savings account or perhaps provide a down payment toward a home,” said Collins, the Alexandria Human Services Director.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors reports that each year the EITC lifts 4.9 million people – including 2.7 million children – above the poverty line. Additionally, the IRS estimates that every EITC dollar received puts up to $3 back into local communities.

Alexandria low-income taxpayer assistance is available to individuals with incomes up to approximately $25,000 and families with incomes up to approximately $35,000, or greater for larger families. Taxpayers must bring a picture ID, W-2 forms and other income records, and records or receipts for expenses for child care, education, or any additional income. They must also provide social security cards or ITIN letters for all family members and a copy of last year’s tax returns, if possible.

In addition to providing the free taxpayer assistance sessions, Community Tax Aid, Inc. has also arranged for representatives of the Enterprise Development Group to provide financial counseling sessions in conjunction with the Wednesday evening taxpayer assistance sessions. A local nonprofit organization, Enterprise Development Group (EDG) encourages citizens to build financial assets and learn about basic financial information. EDG will also provide free reports of individuals’ credit ratings. A counselor will be on hand to discuss how to build, repair and protect personal credit.

Community Tax Aid, Inc. is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization of accountants and lawyers providing expert help to taxpayers in Alexandria and at other sites in the metropolitan D.C. area. In 2006, Community Tax Aid assisted over 300 Alexandria residents in preparing their tax returns.

For further information about the City of Alexandria’s tax preparation sessions, or to request a reasonable disability accommodation or to receive materials in an alternative format, please contact Suzanne Kratzok, Coordinator of Community Resources, at 703-519-3318 x 206 (703-836-1493 TTY) least 24 hours prior to the session you wish to attend. The City of Alexandria is committed to complying with the sprit and provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Virginia Human Rights Act.

The Alexandria Department of Human Services building at 2525 Mount Vernon Avenue is a 20-minute walk from the Braddock Road Metrorail Station and is also served by DASH transit #AT 10 and Metrobus # 10A, 101B, 10E or 10P. For DASH schedule information, call 703-370-DASH or visit www.dashbus.com. For Metrobus schedule information, call 202-637-7000 or visit www.wmata.com.

In case of inclement weather, the program will be closed if the Alexandria City Public Schools are closed or if school activities are cancelled, as reported on the ACPS Hotline (703-866-5300) and on radio and TV broadcasts.

Taxpayers will be assisted on a first come, first served basis. Spanish-speaking volunteers are available on-site and electronic filing is available to help taxpayers receive their refunds more quickly.

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